ENGLISH LITERARY NOTES.

Colonist, Volume XVII, Issue 1980, 16 October 1875, Page 4

ENGLISH LITERARY NOTES.

In " Macmillan's" for August, Mrs. Oliphant commences a new story, entitled "The Curate in Charge," of the merits of which it is too early to judge. Mr Koutledge continues his interesting and useful " Indian Notes." The other articles are good, but somewhat heavy, including one by Mr E. A. Freeman on Liudum Colonia (Liacoln), and another by Mr Sutherland Edwards upon self-government in Kussia. ■ ( . Insectivorous Plants. —In the volume before ua Mr Darwin has made the most important and startling addition to human knowledge perhaps of the century. It will not excite the bitter theological animosities which his previous works called out —animosities, however, which are being smoothed as time advances. The work on insectivorous plants unfolds wonders of creation" which twenty-five years ago were not even suspected. Mr Darwin has not been the only laborer in the field. "We have heretofore had many sketches of the peculiar habits of flowers and plants, and their method of obtaining nutriment, but nothing at all comparable to the scientific precision of this work. Nothing which it contains is more surprising than the nicety of the experiments, the wonderful patience of the investigator, and the thoroughly scientific character of his mind. "The Best to Win."—This is the title of a story which is to appear in the " World," from the pen of Mrs Lynn Lin ton, the author of " Joshua Davidson." Mrs Linton'i productions are now much sought after, and the " Cornhill," the " New Quarterly," and the " World" compete with " Temple Bar" for her writings. In the "Cornhill" for August, there is a variety which Bhould meet all tastes. A new Btory, " The Atonement of Learn Dundas," is begun, and even these early chapters hold out promise of romantic incidents and exciting episodes. More serious readers will find an interesting article upon "The Talmud," and an account of some remarkable mental feats, in which the almost unconscious powers of calculation possessed by a few persons are displayed. A paper upon " Robert Herrick" is pleasant, and a brief account of Czerny George afford some much-needed information respecting the history of the mysterious Servian provinces. New Poem.—Mr Browning's new poem will, according to The Athenceum, be out in October, and will treat of the effect produced on the mind by the sudden losa of fortune.